I mean it still is but not to the extent of say last century and prior. Why has society always functioned said way? For thousands of years. Why is this outdated system so grounded in our history? And why has it only been in modern times where our society is becoming more egalitarian?
Because it works. No even remotely relevant matriarchy has survived the test of time for a large variety of reasons, such as:
All the relevant hard work of maintaining society (keeping order through law enforcement, maintaining sewage, gathering food, keeping factories up and running and so on and on, without what society will crumble) requires male force. Sure, women can do it too, but not as efficiently as men. Sure, women can do those jobs as well, but;
a.) They seldom want to do that
b.) Them doing it is like hitting a nail into a wood with your palm; eventually you'll get it, but a hammer is much better at it than your palm.
Therefore in such societies where men do all the relevant hard work, yet are being told what to do by those who don't even remotely understand their nature (women), it has negative results, as men aren't really into following someone who talks the talk, but can't walk the walk. In case if they're incapable of overthrowing the regime, they prefer to simply leave elsewhere, where they're more appreciated. One of the prime examples was a survival reality series with Bear Grills where men and women were left on uninhabited islands, based on sex. While men quickly decided who does what and soon were able to establish a working safe camp, women were engaged into catty bs and eventually filming crew had to step in and save women, as they were on brink of dying from dehydration.
Additionally, when it comes down to politics, women are severely more likely to bring in and focus on problems related to their sex exclusively (thus not giving a damn about men and their opinions or problems; sometimes they seek solution at the *expense* of men, without even asking them), or get all socialist and want participation trophies for everyone, which kills drive and innovation.
Therefore it's not outdated, it is dated and will continue to get dated. Simply during current period of time, which in grand schemes of history is insignificant amount of time, we're reached such level of development mainly thanks to men that it allows women to say dumb things without getting checked. Thing is, such society won't last for too long (it's already rising prediction that by 2030 almost 50% of women will be single forever and childless), and when it crumbles and hard men will be forced to step in as usual to fix what's broken, women will be reduced to saying "yes, sir" and "no, sir" and only when asked. When shit *really* hits the fan, any matriarchy or egalitarianism flies out of the window first, as logic, strong will and strong measures are required and men are simply better at it.
Don't believe me? Observe what happens when a woman's car tire gets popped and she calls a man to fix it. Should she give him any type of attitude or just annoy him while he's working, or (even dumber) give him any instructions on how to do his job, a mechanic can easily say "mam, you're on your own to fix your own shit then" and a woman immediately shuts up, as she doesn't want to, nor wants to fix a problem herself.
Before the first city states and kingdoms, different hunter gatherer and agrarian people around the world had different social systems. Some of those were egalitarian and some were matriarchal. Many respected and even revered women.
But the early civilizations (Mesopotamia, followed by others) were created by warfare. The more warlike tribes dominated. Men are more suited for warfare. So they easily dominated women who were smaller, weaker and vulnerable. It's not like women could rise up and take over.
Then, along came Judaism, which was extremely patriarchal. And Christianity, which was a combination of male dominated Roman culture and Jewish scripture, followed. The early founders of what came to be known as Roman Catholicism actually disdained women.
That attitude dominated the West until the concept of democracy was introduced. Women were upset that the phrase "All men are created equal" didn't apply to them, as well.
Industrialism made it possible for women to earn a living. And during WWII, when the men were all off fighting, jobs were opened up for women because of the lack of men.
Of course, women had been campaigning for equal rights for quite a few years, but the ability to work at jobs that had once been dominated by men proved that women were very capable. Rosie the Riveter became an icon.
So the concept of social equality, combined with the proof that women were perfectly capable of excelling at academic and manual pursuits, made the women's liberation logical to a large part of society, similarly to the civil rights movement. It seemed only fair.
The advent of contraception also had a huge impact. Women no longer had to make a choice between being old maids or baby factories. They could make their own choices.
Some men in the U. S. are still butt hurt over women's rights. But I think the reason is, a lot of those guys are incapable of earning the respect of intelligent, capable women. They want submissive housewives.
The good old boy network still exists in business.
And there are still many patriarchal societies around the world.
But I celebrate the advancements of women.
it's cos of agriculture and mass migrations. hunters gatherers werent patriarchal but when agriculture happened it forced people to change their lifestyle, gender roles, values and stuff like this which resulted in some civilizations become patriarchal societies, and some not. those patriarchal societies then spread their idiology to neighboring people through invasions, mass migrations, trade etc. in some parts of the world patriarchal societies ended up becoming the norm, in other parts not so much. then comes colonialism from Europe, middle eastern empires and china, who were super expansionist and tried to control or invade very large portions of land and make them act like them which made the more equalitarian or even matriarchal societies fade out for most of them. voila
Well because historically women have let men take the lead in most things. Think about it men had to do the hunting, fishing and defending from wild animals as well as the heavy labor, brave the cold and fight off enemies while we women stayed by the hearth fires.
Even now most of us women still expect men to be the maim breadwinner.
Opinion
40Opinion
u Since women have represented about half of the population throughout history, I beleve they share some responsibility for allowing that to happen.
It is men that enforce the laws; not women. In the USA, laws have given women power and lots of rights and privileges. However, it is men that allow and enforce those rights and privileges. Under the Shaw of Iran women had mostly Western type freedoms. After the revolution, most of the freedoms were removed and the women were powerless to prevent it.
@Adaeva "It is men that enforce the laws; not women. " Because women allow that to happen.
@shi-shi No, that is not what I said. You are twisting my words so you can crate a dragon to slay. READ WHAT I SAID: "Since women have represented about half of the population throughout history, I believe they share SOME responsibility for allowing that to happen."
Telling a lie to "win" an argument makes you a loser.
They’re patriarchal because that’s what worked best. Patriarchy is not out-dated, and the West will at some point become patriarchal again. This isn’t wishful thinking, I don’t say that because it’s what I want, it’s just a fact.
All civilisations go through similar cycles - all rise and eventually fall. On average a successful civilisation will last for around 250 years before it begins to collapse. This has been true for all civilisations throughout history.
Aside from the advanced technology that we have today, nothing else is new. It’s just history repeating itself.
In hard times people default to traditional gender roles because that’s what works best. Men are bigger and stronger than women, and women are more vulnerable, especially pregnant women.
People aren’t overly concerned with gender equality in those times, their main concern is the survival of both themselves and their group.
That’s why all major civilisations were patriarchal when they first began. Men warred with other men, conquered an area which was likely unstable and dangerous, began to build a civilisation.
Once a civilisation reaches a certain level of success, and when people live much more comfortable lives, only then do people start to care about gender equality. They start to do away with the old rules because they think that they’re out-dated, because by this point abandoning those rules no longer does any harm to their ability to survive.
But it was the patriarchal system which brought them to this level of success, or another way to put it is that they’re getting rid of all of the things that made them successful.
Then the culture weakens gradually over time until it either collapses as a result of internal conflict, or from war with a stronger outside culture. That’s when patriarchy returns.
All the freedoms you enjoy, the rights women have gained and even the very website you are using on the internet right now would of never existed if it wasn’t for men who invented it while they operated in a “patriarchal” system. It was also sympathetic men who supported and enabled early feminist movements to be successful. If men collectively didn’t want women to have freedom and rights then things would have never changed.
Most men are not inherently “misogynistic”. Most men don’t care to “enslave women”. Most of us want what is fair. We want what works best. Ironically the “patriarchal systems” is what enabled modern technology and society to evolve which ultimately helped women obtain more freedom.
However I just have to ask if all these advancements in women’s rights have actually made women happier and more fulfilled in modern society?
I’m all for protection against legitimate sexual and physical violence against women. But again are western women actually happy and making the best choices with all their newfound freedoms? Maybe a small minority of them are.
However given the skyrocketing depression rates it’s hard to believe that what you “say” you want is what you REALLY want.
I’d say the skyrocketing depression rates are less to do with our freedoms and more to do with state of living atm don’t you think? Bit hard to be happy when you are living check by check.
And isn’t it ironic that those who put so much faith in the government end up voting in somebody in whose asinine policy is directly responsible for skyrocketing inflation and a recession.
Because of the biological difference, our species needs to reproduce to survive.. and all through history women had to take care of the kids because there was no such thing as baby formula.. and about 1/2 of the kids through history died before the age of like 5. So it was a reality that she had to stay and raise the kids while the men worked to provide, it was a brutally hard reality of non stop trying to raise some kids and have a few of them live to adults
The only reason that we can now share the responsibility is because of modern life and modern medicine.
Just imagine how much tampons and pads have made it easier for women.. stop using them for a while and see how that works out trying to work the "provider" roll where you are going to work and what take a small vacation every 28 days or bleed all over at work?
Your looking at history through the lens of modern society, things where that way because that's what needed to be done
In-depth and very informative answer actually. Thankyou lovely.
Its a pretty bold statement but it is completely cultural and era based. We see society as patriarchal but we dont know if other cultures in different eras viewed it as the same. People knew their roles in those times so it progressed their society. Ancient Rome, Greece & Egypt were structured completely differently and the roles men and women play were completely different from one another. During Ottoman rule yes it was the Sultan/king that made the rules and it was men that drove the empire but it was actually the mother of the Sultan that held great amounts of power. In native cultures. Not everyone can be hunter gatherers. But they need those that build those that cook and those that are storytellers. We see patriarchy through our modern eyes judging the past. Perhaps it might not have been viewed in that sense in their eyes in their times.
Because it worked. And it all comes from what we were at the beginning. Men taking risks, doing most tasks, and therefore taking the lead.
When you have anything to build, any war to fight, you send the men. That would be quite unfair to make them do all the dirty work, and then tell them they don't have a say on what's going on.
Today, with technology, we don't need that much strength, but until very recently that was the case.
Honestly if we could just get rid of war it will make us such a friendlier and embracing society.
@Guanfei yep. I’m a peacemaker at heart but there will always be good and evil, righteousness and evil, right and wrong. Sociopaths and psychopaths do exist and will always exist.
@StormMistress world peace is wonderful concept but it will never be. It’s the sad state of reality. There are civilizations that will attack other civilizations for opportunistic reasons.
Also historical female world leaders DID initiate wars (including queen Elizabeth the first). Although her policy was mostly defensive that didn’t mean she was never the aggressor.
If women ruled the world there would still be conflict and warfare.
This system only seems outdated because of how safe those same patriarchal systems have made the modern world. In the past the land you safely live on was gained for the most part by the sacrifices men have been willing to make with the intention of strengthening their tribe/group/nation. That land which was gained was then worked, cultivated and built on for the most part by men. Only now in this modern world do we have the luxury of living in our homes with little to no threat of an invading group coming to take from us, little to no threat of wild animals attacking us, no need to walk further than your kitchen sink for water or a short walk to collect prepackaged food. The achievements that have granted us these luxuries were given to us for the most part by men and they did such a good job of it that people have forgotten how dangerous the world used to be and have begun to push back at the ideals that have brought us so much safety
It's funny that you'd say the West is so Patriarchal when women in places like the United States have been the most free in world history and have had more rights (and more privileges) than women have ever had in the history of humankind.
Also, the Western world is extremely gynocentric, where women are heavily favored in the judicial system, women can vote without signing up for the draft, and women have special advantages that men do not have, such as being able to falsely accuse a man of a crime as serious as rape and never have to face legal consequences because of it.
The West is framed as Patriarchal, but the veil covers a strong sense of gynocentrism.
It hasn't. It has been just as matriarchal, if not more so.
Jews, who started religiousness, still transfer it via mothers.
Mothers are the only one telling females when to 'go for it' with a boy, vs when to play distant/dumb/aloof/unavailable.
When mommy says so, things instantly change 180 degrees for no good/apparent reason nor with any specific sense. It is done only to show who actually runs the key part of life.
All patriarchy does is express its rebellion against such female cruelty/authoritarianism.
There's no way any sort of feminist-described patriarchy could possibly exist. Based on the way human reproduction works, opressing (and I mean actual opression, not all that manspreading/splaining or air conditioning crap) women is the literal worst thing a society can do for its own future. A woman dying does far more harm to the progression of a society than a man dying because a woman can only have one child per year at maximum.
If this "centuries of opression" thing actually happened we wouldn't have made it this far as a species.
Men five years ago: “you aren’t in a patriarchy… get over yourself!”
Men now: “We need to bring back a stronger patriarchy”
y'all 😂 I just find it kinda funny. What do you even mean by that? The lying and gaslighting is wild for sure.
altho personally I only believe in patriarchy in terms of the home but that can’t be forced by society either.
None of the users here know the correct answer, the woman, having greater parental investment, chose to reproduce with the stronger men, over time the men became stronger and more intelligent than the woman, and the woman never dedicated herself to anything Rather than give birth, she remained weak and short, then the man took advantage of his dominance to subjugate the woman with the help of religion, and that is why we are superior.
I'm sure a lot of it is simply a utilitarian thing.
People recognize that life is hard, and that they need to divide life tasks with their partners. Because the world is a dangerous place and women are generally less physically capable than men, it's easier for the woman to manage the household while her husband takes the risk of going out into the world to bring resources back.
Basic biology. Men are stronger than women in general, and therefore have done the providing. Women give birth, and therefore take care of the children, which requires them to stay home and take care of things.
It's only since the Industrial Age, which started about 200 years ago, that things changed, although there is still a lot of old-fashioned relationships in the world. Nothing wrong with that.
Might makes right trope, also look how Feminism is ruining Japan, and it ruin the West too.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/06/03/japan-low-births-population-decline-2021/
I don't know what you mean by "patriarchal", but if that means men have done more to build the world we live in, accomplished more, created almost every modern amenity in existence, and continue to keep everything running so you can sit on your ass and complain about unfair it is, then I guess you're right. It's very patriarchal.
Women exist to create balance and new life, and men exist to get shit done. Just the way nature intended, sweetheart
Don't fuck with nature, or nature will fuck with you and you'll lose
because society was agrarian in many places and for a long time and it was important to make a lot of kids to survive. that means woman at home, kids were working, and the man was doing his man stuff.
The "reigns" were slowly removed as society evolved to a bunch of "soft" work in offices, that women are saavy about.
Most of pre-history is matriarchal. The original objects of worship were all female and were collectively & individually named "Venus". Fertility was the most important consideration for any early society. Men just can't leave shit alone. Compare dick sizes, They take over, make up rules". Gotta fight over the alpha position, take sides, have strong opinions. Monotheism was the death knell, all patriarchal afterwards.
Will women go out and provide for the family? Will they work away 10-12 house a day in Manual labor to take care of there family? Some women do that.. but most are those some are single mothers. If women would confess that taking out the trash or fixing things around the house isn’t a man’s job it everyone’s job, then this would be start to become less and less an issue.
I don’t know…because men like to think they run things…
It’s a power and control thing I guess. Humanities greatest flaw.
I simply don't need people that make my life harder, that want everything by giving out nothing. That only take take take.
I don't need to control that people, I simply give up on them and want them out.
because now that women can vote, politicians need them. This being the case, we are forced to give them opportunities they wouldn't achieve on their own merit and and disproportionately amplify their voice and the credit we give them above what would otherwise be justified
Because, until modern times, women were excluded from most roles that made a difference historically. Imagine if history was written by women, or at least half was written by women. The balance of heroism, amazing feats and achievements would be more balanced, and thereby allowing women to take a rightful place based on the deeds of their predecessors.
If women want to be men and work in the sewers, do jobs requiring to lift 100 pounds or more, work in odd areas alone at night, fight in bloody wars like men have for centuries, if women truly want that then by all means they can “smash the patriarchy” and do all that and more, but women will realize eventually trying to be a man or imitating a man is not fun.
Because women suck at it? Just look at women there is so much animosity, between you, men naturally create a structure that everyone can work within
Are you saying men don’t have animosity towards each other? Isn’t that what you call Penis measuring or what ever it is?
It hasn't.
Society has got ahead because of men and women. But the men side has just been more interesting to read and make movies about.
There’s a very complicated answer to this but the simple one is control. There is no logical reasoning behind patriarchy
Well because women relied on men for defense and Gathering resources..
Now with tech and Government system men have become useless.. And it's a horrible situation that men put themselves in..
If you study history you'll find it has a tendency to repeat itself
That is sadly true. We never learn do we :/
Unfortunately no where near as often as we should.
I need to engage in some Australian kisses.
Why not? Wehave designed and built this entire civilization. With out men you would live in a mud hut and be eating weeds and grass and live for about 25 years.
I love men but come on give women a little more credit. If need be we will survive and thrive.
Don’t underestimate humanity’s will to survive.
Women do get credit - for fulfilling their role. Without women there would be no next generation to pass all your hard work on to. That is vitally important. A truly misogynistic world views is the idea that childbirth, rearing, and housekeeping - the skills that either only women can do or that they excel at - are something to be destroyed.
What men don't appreciate at all is this recent attitude that all of the hard work we have done and continue to do is somehow oppressive and that women could do it just as well. Feminism and modern women have put themselves completely at odds with men and the role that they serve in society.
@stepyo99 We are more than just our baby making skills and home caring. And this is coming from a traditional wife by the way.
Because women do not like exert power overtly, they don't want to be held to account in the event of their being backlash, so they manipulate and have men stand proxy for them.
Because it works.
If it happens in every culture, all over the world, it just means it was most effective.
But is it? Warmongering isn’t a good thing but it’s usually a male dominated thing.
But that happens in the patriarchal society too so it’s not like it’s any different.
The difference lies in it being an illegal practice and being protected by law and law enforcement vs the neighbouring country just walking up and doing it without repurcussions.
You can only live in peace if you are ready to fight for it. The rational to think this way has proven more common to men in history, hence why places with men in power survived and places with women in power were taken over by places with men in power.
These lines get more blurry in the last 50 years, but that's a super recent change.
The patriarchy is made up bull sheet.
You have to make up stuff to battle.
Have women ever been able to successfully govern on their own, completely without men?
How can we when we are never given the opportunity?
Probably because men conquered the lands and drew the lines on the map that we call countries.
Probably because it worked. Otherwise it would collapse thousands years ago.
You don’t know that. When you only have one system to go off on you can’t just assume all other systems wouldn’t work.
Effective doesn’t mean morally right.
Women used to be in the kitchen.
Now they are in Only Fans.
i'm curious. why do you decide to call history "patriachal"?
Many Native American tribes were matriarchal.
The matriarchal societies n ancient history were destroyed by patriarchal ones. And thank God. The matriarchal ones were doing twisted shit like Child sacrifice
Because men tend to be more dominant, and were willing to address the harsh realities of the older days.
How exactly is western society still patriarchal today? Please be specific.
That is the natural order of things.
Power struggle
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